Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul in attempt to end three-year war

After the passing of John Barnett, producer of Whale Rider, Shayne Currie explores Whāngārā, the village celebrated by the film, which still holds fond memories despite a restrictive sign warning against trespassing. This reflects a tension between the community's pride in the movie and the challenges of managing tourism and access to their private lands. Want More Context? 🔎

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged, as announced in a joint Instagram post featuring a slideshow of proposal moments and a large diamond ring set in yellow gold. They humorously captioned the post, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” Want More Context? 🔎

A jury in New Zealand has convicted Abel Wira, 61, of manslaughter after his dogs fatally mauled his friend, Neville Thomson, marking the first conviction of its kind in the country. The verdict follows a week of deliberation, with the jury determining Wira's liability for the tragic incident. Want More Context? 🔎

Ryan Woodford was fatally shot in an execution-style killing at his emergency housing motel in Taupō, witnessed by his partner and children. Teina Williams, president of the Taupō Mongrel Mob, is accused of the murder, having allegedly escaped a rehabilitation facility to carry out the crime, but he pleads not guilty, claiming he was not present during the incident. Want More Context? 🔎

Jessica Jellick, a wedding and family photographer in Whangārei, lost nearly 4,000 social media followers overnight after Meta removed accounts linked to inappropriate activities. This loss came shortly after Meta's announcement of a significant purge of fake and impersonating accounts across its platforms. Want More Context? 🔎

When members of the Fitus gang arrived at an East Auckland playground for a planned confrontation with the Head Hunters motorcycle gang, they aimed to win at any cost, leading to the August 2023 shooting death of member Charles Pongi. Five defendants, including gang members and an associate, pleaded not guilty, as prosecutors described the chaotic scene involving a 22-car convoy in a family area. Want More Context? 🔎